Business Network Update

The purpose of the Business Network Breakfast is to provide an opportunity of area business owners to meet each other and share ideas about how to improve the business community in our area. This newsletter provides a brief summary of the meeting as a reminder for attendees and to keep those who couldn’t be with us in the loop.

Speaker Notes
Council Member Brenda Stardig
Council Member Brenda Stardig opened the breakfast with praise for the District and the work we are doing in the area. She also voiced her appreciation for the business people in the room whose dedication and service in the area was starting to make a difference. She assured the group that the City was committed to the improvement of the area and reminded business owners and residents that this was already an area where you could get a great return on your investment.

Council Member Stardig also encouraged community members to attend the Movie Nights organized by her office in Agnes Moffet Park, located at Hammerly & Beltway 8. There is a Farmer’s Market at 5 pm followed by a movie at 8pm. Movies scheduled:
June 17 Back to the Future
June 24 Wizard of Oz

Livable Centers Study
Landscape Architects Bill Odle and Drew Mengwasser of TBG Partners gave a brief overview of the preliminary findings of the Livable Centers Study.

Vision Statement
Our vision for the Antoine Corridor is to transform Antoine into a destination intertwined with the waters of White Oak Bayou and Vogel Creek, linked to the heart of Houston by waterside trails, punctuated by unique parks, community gardens, and reborn as a walkable, bikable mixed-use corridor anchored by landmark buildings, lively public spaces and served by enhanced transit.

Scope of Study
The Livable Centers Study Grant funds the development of design recommendations, infrastructure improvements and urban design solutions that will provide our community with appealing places for people to interact and gather, make walking, bicycling and transit more convenient, preserve the environment and create a unique community that will act as a catalyst for investment and redevelopment. The study
area is approximately one mile of Antoine from W. Tidwell to West Little York but it will impact our entire area.

Recommendations

Leverage Strategic Location with Upgraded Transit Connections - Establish express service signature bus lines that allow residents to live, walk and ride transit to jobs while reducing traffic and increasing pedestrian activity on Antoine.

Redefine Our Relationship to Water - Raise awareness of water with public spaces and trails that trace it, landmark buildings that leverage investments overlooking it and bridges that celebrate crossing it.

Make Parks and Gardens a Priority - Transform the area with a series of diverse parks linked in a green network, animated and accented by water.

Create a Place that is a Destination - Create a live, work, learn, visit and play lifestyle and sense of place that will be unique in Houston.

Transform an Auto-centric Strip Into a Street for People - Redevelop the street edge with active public spaces and pedestrian-friendly commerce, making it safe to walk and a place of identity and civic pride.

Upcoming Events

Security Meeting
Monthly working session for law enforcement, corporate security personnel and others to exchange information about issues in the Near Northwest area. Second Tuesday of the month at 5300 Hollister 100.

Business Network Breakfast
Our next quarterly breakfast! Thursday, September 1, 2011, 7:30 am at Café Red Onion, 12440 Northwest Freeway. Please RSVP to Shalu, 713-895-8021

National Night Out
One of the largest in Houston! Meet your neighbors and have a good time. Tuesday, October 4, 2011 from 6:00—8:30 pm in the Kroger parking lot, 5620 W. Tidwell. We need partners to help make this event a success so contact Eileen Egan, eegan@nearnorthwestdistrict.com, for more information.

Job Fair
Recruit new employees or contract workers, Wednesday, October 19, 2011 from 10:00 am—2:00 pm at Advent Lutheran Church, 5820 Pinemont. Contact: Ruby Glass, rglass@nearnorthwestdistrict.com